January 16, 2008

Now Here's A Civilized Approach To Self-Discipline

This method, from Academic Productivity, and used here to drive a rolling writing deadline, could (and, oh yes, should) be adapted to any pursuit that one finds less than palatable:

What I call the Martini Method is named after an anecdote I once read about the novelist Anthony Burgess (of Clockwork Orange fame). Burgess was a very productive writer, which is attributed to a system where he would force himself to write a 1000 words a day, 365 days a year. When he had completed his word count, he would relax with a dry martini, and enjoy the rest of the day with an easy conscience, and normally in bar.

The only problem with this is that on days where one is truly productive from the get-go, you may get to the pub before they open. Wait, did I say "problem?" I meant "most awesome thing."